Houndour hung its head, muttering under its breath: "How could this be... we actually lost..." Its voice was filled with reluctance.
Arbok silently coiled its body, no longer letting out its low hisses, as if it had suddenly lost all fighting spirit.
Though they had lost the battle, the Pokémon were true to their word. Their expressions gradually softened, no longer as hostile as before. After all, Wen Qi had promised them food, which brought some comfort to their hearts.
Wen Qi stepped forward, a smile on his face, and said: "Leaders, although this battle was intense, at least we have a result now. I sincerely hope we can cooperate amicably from here on, following the agreement we made earlier."
An elderly Noctowl flapped its wings and slowly flew up to Wen Qi, saying: "Human, we accept our loss this time and will keep our promise to cause no more trouble." Its voice was steady, yet carried a hint of resignation.
Wen Qi nodded and continued: "Then I’m truly grateful. I will definitely keep my promise and give you enough berries. If everyone can help out, we can finish early and enjoy the rewards sooner."
The Rhyhorn leader trudged over with heavy steps and rumbled: "Hmph, I’ll trust you this once. But if you dare deceive us, we won’t let you off easily." It glared at Wen Qi, its eyes still holding a trace of wariness.
Wen Qi quickly assured: "Don’t worry, I won’t break my word. Let’s work together and get things done."
The Beedrill leader buzzed around, its voice sharp: "Fine, then let’s head out now. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish."
Wen Qi smiled and replied: "Alright, have each of your clan leaders bring a few Pokémon with me. After helping me pick the berries, I’ll distribute them according to the usual amount."
Upon hearing this, the Pokémon across from them quickly sprang into action. The leaders of each group swiftly selected three or four Pokémon, obediently following behind Wen Qi.
"Let’s go, we need to hurry and pick the berries." Wen Qi called out.
And so, under Wen Qi’s lead, this makeshift team headed toward the orchard. Along the way, Wen Qi chatted and laughed with the Pokémon, the atmosphere gradually becoming more harmonious.
The other Pokémon returned to the forest, which fell quiet for the time being. They all waited for their leaders to return with food, hoping this conflict would end and bring peace and tranquility.
Only then did Wen Qi truly breathe a sigh of relief. If he had mishandled things earlier, it could have turned into a full-scale battle. If a battle could bring benefits, Wen Qi might have accepted it, but this fight was purely over his berries. Even if he won, he would lose many companions; if he lost, he might not even survive himself. So, resolving it peacefully now was a stroke of luck.
On his way back to the orchard, Wen Qi no longer had to ride Arcanine. Instead, he rode Gogoat, which felt much more comfortable. Watching the lively, Husky-like Arcanine bounding ahead, Wen Qi thought to himself that it was now level 30 and could evolve. He hoped it would mature a bit after evolving. It was said that when Arcanine evolved into Arcanine, it became very steady and mature. With that thought, Wen Qi felt reassured.
They soon returned to the orchard, and Wen Qi continued picking berries as planned. The forest Pokémon were assigned to pick the berries, while the stronger ones handled the transport. Wen Qi stayed in the warehouse to sort them. This time, Wen Qi had no choice but to keep only the best-quality berries in his small world, leaving the rest in the warehouse.
Soon, evening arrived. Although the battle had caused a slight delay, with the help of many capable Pokémon, all the berries were picked in less than a day. Wen Qi had already divided them into portions: a larger share for the forest side, a smaller one for the Pidgeot family, and some for the Poliwrath family.
When Wen Qi presented the divided berries to the forest Pokémon, their eyes lit up instantly, their surprise and excitement impossible to hide. Having been somewhat anxious, they couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the mountain of berries.
Houndour perked up immediately, its once-drooping head held high as it ran excitedly around the berry pile, cheering: "Wow, so many delicious berries!"
Arbok no longer coiled up; it slithered over slowly, its eyes full of surprise, letting out cheerful hisses as if to say: "This is amazing! No more worrying about going hungry!"
The Rhyhorn leader’s eyes widened, and even its heavy breaths seemed to carry laughter. It gently touched the berries with its hoof, feeling the unexpected generous gift, and couldn’t help but exclaim: "This is truly wonderful!"
The Beedrill leader circled in the air, its buzzing filled with joy and excitement.
A mischievous Mankey jumped up, screaming with excitement: "So many berries! This is even more than we expected!"
Another Emolga couldn’t help but chime in, carefully picking up a berry, sniffing it, and saying with a dreamy expression: "And the quality is just amazing!"
An Oddish swayed its body and said happily: "Before, I had to eat three to feel full and regain energy, but now one is enough!"
The Pokémon chattered among themselves, laughter and joy echoing through the orchard. Their gazes toward Wen Qi became incredibly warm, filled with gratitude and respect.
Seeing them so happy, Wen Qi felt as if a flower had bloomed in his heart. This was exactly the effect he wanted—successfully winning over the hearts of the Pokémon around the farm. He knew that from now on, they would unconsciously protect his farm, making it even safer.
Moreover, for Wen Qi, he truly didn’t lack these berries. The berries in his small world were also about to ripen, with even greater quantity and quality. His earlier tension had only been to avoid a major conflict over the spoils—after all, he had to protect his own property. He could choose to give, but others couldn’t forcibly take.
The forest Pokémon joyfully carried their berries, ready to leave.
"Wen Qi, thank you so much! You’re truly a trustworthy and kind person!" The Noctowl leader said gratefully, its eyes full of sincerity.
"If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to come to us!" The Rhyhorn leader declared loudly, its voice brimming with warmth and sincerity.
"Yeah, you’re always welcome to visit us!" The other Pokémon chimed in, their voices full of anticipation.
Wen Qi smiled, responding to their thanks and invitations, watching them leave happily. Soon, the forest Pokémon disappeared into the woods with their full loads of berries.
Wen Qi then distributed the remaining berries to the Pidgeot family and the Poliwrath family as promised. The Pidgeots gracefully swooped down, gently picking up their share with their powerful claws, their eyes showing gratitude toward Wen Qi. The Poliwraths marched with steady steps, cheerfully carrying their berries back to their territory.
"Wen Qi, thanks a lot! If you ever need us, don’t be shy!" The Pidgeot leader said, its voice clear and pleasant.
The Poliwrath leader nodded and added: "Having a boss like you is our fortune."
Wen Qi smiled and bid them farewell, watching their retreating figures with a heart full of satisfaction. Though the day had been filled with tense battles and busy harvesting, the outcome was perfect. He believed that in the days to come, his farm would become even more peaceful and prosperous under the "guardianship" of these Pokémon.